Episode 8 The Damage a Man Can DoThis is a featured page

EPISODE 3.8: "The Damage a Man Can Do"

The damage a man can do

Episode summary:
 Miguel brings Dexter another “project,” but this time he wants to get his hands dirty. Dexter realizes it’s time to teach Miguel the Code – for his own safety as well as Miguel’s. As Dexter walks Miguel through the process, Dexter both struggles with, and enjoys, letting Miguel into his private world so completely. But Dexter doesn’t realize that this has only whetted Miguel’s appetite. Rita finds herself losing control because of the pregnancy. She becomes worried that Dexter may get fed up with her. Because of her hard work, Debra finds herself one step closer to catching the Skinner. But after she finds out a secret about her new boyfriend, Anton, he disappears on her.
Original air date:
 November 16, 2008
Written by:
 Scott Buck
Directed by:
 Marcos Siega
Guest star(s):
Notable music:


  • TALK ABOUT THIS EPISODE
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Dexter's Open Case Files
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Victim Name:Billy Fleeter Billy Fleeter

Age/Occupation: Ex-college football player, current gambling enforcer

Where/how Dexter stalks victim: Along with Miguel, Dexter follows him around to various sports bars and eventually knocks Billy out in his own home.

Why victim deserves it: He killed people to pay off his gambling debts.

Dexter's kill methods and rituals: Dexter set everything up as he normally would, but then handed the reigns over to Miguel and let him actually do the killing. No blood slide was taken.

Victim's last words: 1st) "What the fuck?" 2nd) "Who are you?"
3rd and last) "Hey man, I just do what I had to do."

Location of killing: A small storage room where broken slot machines were stored.

Close calls/slip-ups: Trying to teach Miguel "The Code" proved very difficult and risky as Miguel was prone to cut corners and even tried to take evidence from the kill-room.
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Dexter's kill methods and rituals:

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DAYDREAMS
CLUES TO DEXTER'S PAST
  • Numerous times throughout the episode, Dexter would imagine Harry was right next to him, giving him hell for trying to include Miguel in on "the Code".
  • The final time Harry appeared to Dexter, he wasn't convinced the kill went as well as Dexter had thought. He told Dexter that from now on whatever Miguel did, that he (Dexter) would be connected to it. Harry insinuated that it was for that reason exactly that he killed himself.





DEXTER'S RELATIONSHIPS
DEVELOPMENTS WITH RITA
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS
  • Rita's hormones were on overdrive and she wouldn't stop being angry at Dexter.
  • She put him in charge of getting a band for the wedding.
  • Dexter bought Rita an engagement ring and she loved it.
  • Deb accompanies Dexter as he goes engagement ring shopping. She can't believe how stupid he is sometimes.
  • Dexter and Miguel take their friendship to the next level by Dexter teaching Miguel how to stalk and kill somebody successfully.


SIGNIFICANCE OF EPISODE TITLE
Throughout this episode Dexter internally refers to "The Butterfly Effect" a phenomena that explains how the actions of one being can affect events played out all over the world. Legend has it that the effects of a butterfly beating its wings can eventually cause such a powerful gust of wind that a storm is born. The Damage a Man Can Do is a similar musing that exemplifies the consequences of one man's actions. With Miguel now taking part in the hunt for lowlifes deserving of death, Dexter has an outsider's perspective on how each step in the process affects the balance of nature.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
BEST MOMENTS
BEST LINES
  • Miguel opening up about when he beat up his father and how great it felt.
  • The cliff-hanger at the end that shows Miguel entering Ellen Wolf's house (presumably to kill her).
  • Angel's long, awkward phone message to girlfriend Barbara to cancel their date because of work.
  • LaGuerta and Wolf flirt with a young bartender after a long, boring police banquet. Wolf encourages LaGuerta to have more fun.
  • Miguel presses Dexter to divulge "The Code" that he lives by when it comes to stalking and killing. Dexter sort of gets choked up talking about the significance of the code.
  • The creepy, orgasmic look on Miguel's face after he thrusts the knife into Fleeter's chest.
  • Dexter fakes having trouble with picking locks to mislead Miguel into thinking he's not so experienced
  • Dexter and Miguel at the outdoor sporting goods store shopping for a "starter kit" for Miguel. Miguel keeps grabbing the wrong items as Dexter teaches him how to avoid common mistakes.
  • "I tell Miguel to be inconspicuous and what does he do? He shows up dressed like the uni-bomber" (Dexter)
  • "I'm more of a National Geographic guy. Sharks, bears, the occasional penguin..." (Dexter's aversion to sports)
  • "Uh, boundaries?" (Dexter's internal reaction to Miguel opening up his computer.
  • "I'm ready to get my hands dirty." (Miguel)
  • "Your brother's kind of a dweeb, huh?" (Quinn to Deb)
  • "Call it off. I didn't teach you the code to share with your buddies." (Harry to Dexter)
  • "You're such a Y-Chromosome cliche" (Deb to Dexter)
  • "I hope you're a stronger man" (Harry to Dexter)



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ZizzyB23 More Thoughts on "The Damage a Man Can Do" (page: 1 2 3) 41 Nov 23 2008, 6:15 PM EST by Dr.Toejam
Thread started: Nov 16 2008, 10:45 PM EST  Watch
And like clockwork, the second "act" of this season of Dexter comes to a close and it leaves us with a huge development Dexter's going to have to deal with for the final act.

I've got to say, I've always been a big fan of Harry, even when he became a jerk during season two, and now I'm glad he's the voice of wisdom again (even if Dexter doesn't listen to him). Is there anyone out there who thinks this relationship with Miguel is going to end well?

I felt it was painfully obvious that Anton would get caught by "The Skinner" just be the way him and Deb looked at each other and made plans for the next morning (or whatever). They said what they said, and then I thought, "Oh! He's gone". My prediction (as much as I wish it wasn't true) is that Anton will make it out of this alive, although he'll be badly disfigured, and that he and Deb will settle down for a serious and healthy relationship, and that we'll see him next season (a lot like the Chutsky character and Deb in the Dexter novels).

Where was Masuka this episode? I'm not the biggest Masuka fan, but that man is on the payroll. Make him work for his money!

And I said it before and I'll say again. Where's the ghost of Doakes!? Erik King teased to it at the Emmys, and I expect him to live up to his word.

What I'm wondering is if the issue of Dexter being the real "Bay Harbor Butcher" will ever come up? He won't show Miguel how he disposes of the bodies, or take some blood of his slide collection, and I'm guessing that's so he doesn't make the connection. I would like to see if Miguel may try to black mail Dexter with this information.

And before anybody says anything, I think the exchange at the end with Rita about her having a "monster" inside was just for fun. I don't think ANYTHING will come of it.
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lulamae Thoughts on "The Damage a Man Can Do" 18 Nov 18 2008, 10:39 PM EST by mike91848
Thread started: Nov 15 2008, 10:20 AM EST  Watch
Use this thread to share your thoughts about the latest Dexter episode.

Please remember, this thread is for discussion of Dexter. Please refrain from veering into off-topic and/or personal conversations in this thread. If you would like to have off-topic/personal conversations with fellow wiki users, please utilize messages for this purpose. Off-topic entries in this thread MAY BE DELETED.
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